Substation sending apparatus for pneumatic-despatch-tube systems



E W m w 8 1 4m l m 2 D m G G 7. T.. e, M D m M Rm m H P `6 LRS.& mmm? HST Us, UTY TMs A E AB CLT .G Bm D N E S w L T.. .5 u 7, m w w m B 5 M U o W N (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2. B. C. B ATGHELLER. f SUBSTATION SENDINGAPPARATUS POR PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE SYSTEMS.

j?? Eaented Deo. 21, 1897.

mi Norms ruins co. vuomumo., wnsnlnnrorg. D. c.

4(No Modem 7 sheetssmelt 4.

' B. C. BATCHBLLER.

SUBSTATION SENDING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIU DESPATCHv TUBE SYSTEMS.

No. 595,754. P-aJt'ented'Dec. 21, 1897.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

B. C. BATCHELLEB.. SUBSTATIUN SENDING APPARATUS PoR PNBUMATIG DESPATGH TUBE SYSTEMS.

N0. 595,754. Patented 1360.21.1897.

You, n4 c w: um versn: cn. Puoraumo. wAsNma 7 sheets-sheet' 6. B. C.'BATCH`ELLER. f SUBSTATION SBNDING APPARATUS POR PNBUMATIG DESPATGH (No Model.)

TUBE SYSTEMS.

7 sheetssheeu .7.

(No Model.)

B. C. BATOHELLER. Y sUBsTATIoN SENDING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIG DESPATGH TUBE SYSTEMS.

Wy/J. Patented Dec. 21, 1897. |||||l UNITED STATES @PATENT Ormes.

BIRNEY O. BATOHELLER, OF BROOKLYN', NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATES MAIL PACKAGE AND GENERAL PNEUMATIO DELIVERY COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUBSTATION SENDING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATI'C-DESPATCH-TUBEA SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,754, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed June 23,1896. Serial No. 596,620. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it m/tz/ concern,.-

Be it known that I, BIRNEY C. BATCHEL- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Substation Sending Apparatus for Pneumatic Despatch Tube Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description 1o of the inventionsuch as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

My present invention relates to certain improvements in pneumatic-despatch-tube sys- I 5 tems having, in connection with a main transit-tube, an intermediate or sub station at which, as well as at the main station, carriers may be introduced into the main tube; and the object of my invention is to provide 2o means whereby the contingency of' collision or interference between carriers introduced at the main sending-station and the substation can be avoided.

Primarily my invention consists in providing the substation sending apparatus with locking mechanism set in operation to lock the apparatus by the passage of a carrier through a determined portion of the main tube, said locking apparatus being provided 3o With self -actuated or automatic releasing mechanism arranged to release the sending apparatus a definite time after the passage ot' the carrier or the setting of the lock. While this time escapement or automatic 3 5 selfreleasing construction of the locking mechanism is the primary feature of my invention and is capable of embodiment in many modifications, my' invention also consists in various details of construction and 4o combinations of mechanism which will be best understood as described in connection with the drawings in which they are illustrated, and in which- Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of one form of mechanism embodying my invention, certain part-s being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of one form of sending apparatus and the mechanism for pneumatically operating the same. Fig. 3 is an 5o enlarged detail view of the locking-levers or catch-pawls. Fig. 4 isa detail plan view of a part of the locking devices. Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of a part of the sending apparatus arrangedin connection with the mainA tube and a by-pass. 5 5 Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View showing the yoke connection of the operating-lever with v the valve-rod belonging to the mechanism which actuates the sending apparatus. Fig. 7

is a front elevational View of an alternative 6o form of mechanism operated bya passing carrier for the purpose of locking the sending apparatus. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, the same being in its idle or inoperative position with the sending apparatus unlocked. Fig. 9 is a view of the same mechanism shown in its operative position, the parts being relatively changed in position to occupy the places assumed when the sending apparatus is locked. Fig. lO is 7o a front elevation similar to Fig. 7 with certain parts shown in vertical section. Fig. 11

is an enlarged end elevation similar to Fig.

8 with certain parts shownin section. Fig.

l2 is a detail plan view of one of the shafts, 75 a pawl or catch carried thereby, and an armature-lever, which parts belong to the form of mechanism shown in Figs. 7 to ll. Fig. 13

is a section on the line a: x of Fig. l0.

Similar letters'of reference designate corre- 8o sponding parts throughout al1 the different figures of the drawings.

A denotes a pneumatic despatch or transit tube of any ordinary and Well-known construction. This is provided at a certain point with an auxiliary lateral parallel tube a, the ends of which enter the main tube A at a suitable distance apart; The pipe or tube A is filled with a column of air having a certain pressure, and within this column moves a 9o carrier or a number of carriers adapted for the sending of articles, packages, mail-matter, or anything else which it may be desired to propel swiftly from one point to another, said carriers being of any common and approved construction. The auxiliary pipe a is provided at a point intermediate between its ends with a diaphragm-supporting chamber P, within which is a diaphragm p, which vibrates toward and away from a contact-pin roo P', while from the diaphragm ,fp and the pin P lead the electrical wires or conductors Q Q'. Thus it will be seen that the mechanism thus briefly described constitutes an electropueumatic circuit-closing device which is of the kind shown and described in my other pending application for Letters Patent, filed April 6, 1890, Serial No. 586,359. It is not thought necessary to delineate or describe in this application the construction and operation of the said circuit-closing means with any minute detail. The illustration presented in Fig. l is thought to be sufficient so far as illustration is required, and so far as description is concerned it need only be stated that when a carrier moves through the main tube A and passes one end of the pipe a the excess of pressure behind the propelled carrier, being transmitted through the pipe a to the diaphragm-supportin g chamber P and caused to act upon the diaphragm p, will close the electric circuit through the wires Q Q', and this will cause the electromagnet II to be energized. IVhen the carrier already alluded to passes the other end of the auxiliary pipe a, the equilibrium of pressures on the opposite sides of the diaphragm 13 will be immediately restored, and the result will be the breaking of the circuit. Thus it will be understood that in the present application I simply utilize the electropneumatic circuitclosing means described and claimed in my other application above specified. When the electromagnet II is energized, the armature I4, which is attached to lever if, will be attracted, and as the circuit-closing lever I is held against the armature I4 by the spring Il it results that the upper end I2 of said lever I will be brought into contact with the insulated contact-screw or pin B2, supported in some suitable standard B3. The wire Q2 connects the contact-screw B2 with wire Q. The wire Q is connected with the lever l, so that when lever I touches screw B2 the circuitcloser P p P is short-eircuited, and the magnet II remains excited so long as the lever I remains in contact with screw B2 even though the circuit be broken between p and P. The object of this is to give the chamber B time to iill with air, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

As already suggested, the main object of my invention is to provide improved means for enabling carriers to be inserted into the despatch-tube at substations by locking the sendingapparatus, so that it cannot be operated when carriers are passing and leaving it free to operate when carriers are not passing, the locking being automatically effected by each carrier as it passes and the sending apparatus being automatically released a fixed time after the carrier passes beyond it, the invention residing, primarily, in providing a lock for the substation sending apparatus which is set to prevent the use of said apparatus by the approach of a carrier and which is, so to speak, self-releasingthat is to say, provided with releasing or unlocking mechanism which automatically releases the sending apparatus a determined time after the carrier has set the lock.

I will iirst explain the construction and arrangement of one form of sending apparatus, and I will then describe two or more forms or examples oi' mechanism whereby the traveling carrier through electropneumatic agencies may lock and unlock the said sending apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the main despatch-tube A is provided at a certain point with a removable section, as c, which is carried by the swinging frames O C', pivotally supported upon the horizontal shaft C, which has bearings at each end in the standards C2 C2. Between the ends of the swinging tube-section c and the adjacent ends of the main tube A are inserted short tube-sections A2 A2, which are formed integral with a curved by-pass tube A', the said sections A2 A2 having lateral slots or openings A3 A3, through which the air passes into the by-pass tube A', and thus it will be seen that the column of air in the tube A is enabled to preserve its continuity at all times through the by-pass tube A even if the swinging tubesection c be removed from alinement with the main tube and the passage of the air in a straight line shut ofl, as it were. The swinging tube-section c is thus arranged so that it can be moved into line with the main tube or out of line, accordingly as may be desired. The swinging frames O C carry not only the tube-section c, but also another similar tubesection c', Fig. 2, and either the tube-section croi' the tube-section c' may be brought into alinement with the main tube A. (See Fig. 2.) In this gure the tube-section c is in alinement with the main tube, while the tubesection c is out of alinement. When the parts are in this position, it will be understood that a carrier may be inserted into the tube c'. By shifting the tubes, throwing the tube c out of alinement with the main tube and the tube c into alinement therewith, the carrier previously inserted into the tube c will be placed into the main tube and brought into a position where it will be caught in the main column of air, the pressure of which will immediately propel it to its destination. As already suggested, the continuity of the airpressure within the main tube is kept constant through the by-pass A while the shifting of the tubes istaking place. On the standards C2 C2 are the curved projecting plates C5, between which the tube-section c remains while the shitting of the apparatus is taking place, and which plates serve to keep the ends of the tube cclosed when the latter is not in alinement with the main tube.

On one or the other of the movable frames C is a rigid projection or arm C4, to which is pivoted a link d', which is likewise pivoted to a slide cl2, that operates ou an inclined way or slide-bar D2, said link d and said slide (l2 IOO IIO

zontal arm is shown at 7L in Fig. 3 and also at R in Figs. 8 and 9.

I will now explain one example of mechanism for locking the valve-rod 7c by also locking the arm-provided shaft J2 and the bellcrank device, consisting of the armsj andj, as just explained. This example of mechanism is shown in section in Fig. l and may be properly termed a pneumatic device, operated by the passing carrier through a closing of an electric circuit to lock the sending apparatus and temporarily prevent the insertion of a carrier into the main tube.

I have already referred hereinabove to the electromagnet I-I and the lever I. These are mounted upon an air-chamber B, which may be of any suitable size and shape. At one end of chamber B is a valve-casingE2, within which is a chamber B', that communicates with the chamber B, in which chamber B' is the compound valve E E, having the valvestem e. An air-conduit a is screwed into the wall of the valve-casing E2, and the compound valve E E controls the passage of air from the conduit a to the chamber B. The conduit a may run from any suitable source of air-supply, being, if desired, connected to the main tube A. The end of the chamberB opposite to the air-inlet valve E E is provided with a cylindrical projection H2, on which is screwed a conical cap H4, having a perforated apex, and within the cylindrical extension I-l3 is arranged a slidable disk H, that is screwed to the end of a horizontal rod 7L, whose opposite end projects through the perforated apex of the conical cap H4, said rod h being enveloped by a spiral spring H2, that is suitably tensioned at each end. I have noticed the fact that the horizontal rod h operates against the downwardly-projecting arm J4 and oscillates in consequence the shaft J2, thereby holding the projecting arm J 2 against the end of the valve-rod 7c, as shown in Fig. 2. (See also Fig. l, which fully illustrates that part of the invention which I am now explaining.) From the wall of the air-chamber B proceeds a pipe b, and from the airconduit a proceeds a pipe b'. The pipe b enters a chamber F, which is open at one side, and the pipe b enters the chamber F, which is likewise preferably open to the atmosphere on one side. In the chamber F is a piston g, and in the chamber F is a piston g', the piston g being of greater area than the piston g and the two pistons being connected together by the slotted rod G, which embraces the vertical lever I, above alluded to. On thelower end of the lever I is applied a spring I', the action of which is to keep the lever I against the armature I4. In the bottom wall of the airchamber B is a side chamber h5, which is entered by an opening b2 into the chamber B, while the said chamber b5 has an opening h4 into the atmosphere, said opening b4 being controlled and graduated in size by means of the screw-valve b3. The lever I is not connected to the horizontal lever c', but pivoted on the same axis. The outer end of level' z' is pivotally connected with the compound valve E E by means of the link i.

The operation of the construction just described is as follows: When a carrier passes through the main tube A and closes the circuitwith the result that the lever i, which is connected to and supports the armature I4, is drawn up against the electromagnet H, allowing the lever I to follow by force of the spring I and lifting the compound valve E E', air is admitted from the conduit a through the chamber B into the rlarge airchamber B, where it will press against the face of the disk H. As the chamber B gradually fills with air the pressure thereof will move the disk H' within its cylinder H3, compressing the spring H2 and causing the rod h to be forced against the projection J4 and the sending apparatus to be consequently securely locked. The airpressure within the chamber B will also begin to pass through the pipe b to the chamber F, where it will act upon the piston g. It is to be noted that the pipe b contains the same air-pressure that exists in the pipe a and that consequently the same air-pressure is against the piston g as exists in the chamber B when the latter receives pressure from the conduit a', and likewise that the pressure against the piston g will be the same to the square inch as the pressure against the piston g after said pressure reaches the piston from the air-chamber B; but the area of piston g being greater than the area of piston g the result will be that the pistons will be shifted to the right from the position shown in Fig. l, and such shifting will shift the lever I, throwing it into the position shown in Fig. l. The carrier in passing closes the electric circuit at P p I for a very short time, which time may not be long enough to allow the chamber B to fill up to full pressure. In order to keep the electromagnet H excited and the valve E E' open for a sufiicient time to allow the chamber to fill, the means of shortcircuiting the circuit-closer P p P through lever I, screw B2, wire Q2, die., is provided. When the pressure in the chamber B rises nearly to that in pipe a', it moves the piston g against the pressure on piston g by virtue of the greater area of g, thereby moving the lever I into the position shown in Fig. l and breaking the circuit at I2. As the circuit will usually have been broken at P before the piston g moves, when the circuit is broken at I2 the electromagnet H will cease to be ex- IOO IIO

cited and the lever c' will drop down, closing being pivoted to the end of a piston-rod d, which projects through a stuffing-box in the head of the inclined cylinder D, which cylinder is arranged in some position in propinquity to the sending apparatus and contains within it the piston D', to which the pistonrod d is connected. The wall of the cylinder D is provided with an air-passage Za, leading to one end of the cylinder, and an air-passage 7a2, leading to the other end, in order that air may be conveyed alternately to each end of the cylinder for the purpose of acting upon the opposite sides of the piston. It is obvious that the driving of the piston from one end of the cylinder to the other will, through the connection of the piston-rod d and the link cl with the swinging frames that carry the tubesections, cause the said sections to be so shifted that a carrier may easily be placed into the main tube to be propelled. On the side wall of the cylinder D is a valve-casing M, containing the valves K and K', carried on the valve-stem k. At one end of the valvechamber M is an air-inlet port 7c3 and at the other end is another air-inlet port kf. In the valve-chamber are also ports 705 Z55 705, the middle port of which serves as an exhaust-port, while the other two serve alternately as inlet and exhaust ports. The inlet-ports k3 and 154 are connected with some suitable source of air-supply, usually the pipe A, by means of any convenient tubing or piping which may be employed for the purpose. One end of the valve rod or stem 7s projects through a stufling-box at one end of the valve-chamber M, while the otherend passes out through the other end of the valve-chamber and enters a tubular extension m on the end of the valvechamber M. The valve-stem lo Within this tubular extension fm is enveloped for a portion of its length with a spring m3, which is tensioned between a shoulder on the valvestem and a sliding sleeve m2, Fig. 6, engaged by the lateral pins mm, projecting from the yoke L2 on the lower end of the lever L. On the adjacent end of the valve-rod k is an integral head. The lever Lis pivoted on some suitable frame and is provided with a handle Z and also with a catch L2, adapted to engage notches in the segment L. Said segment L is notched, so that the catch L2 may hold the lever in the position where the valves in the valve-chamber Will be so placed as to admit air to one end of the cylinder D, or in the other position where such valves will be changed into the other extreme position for the purpose of admitting air into the opposite end of the cylinder D. It will be obvious that the operator by disengaging the catch L2 and shifting the lever L may operate the valve mechanism for the purpose of shifting the valves into one position or the other, as the case may be. If it is desired to insert a carrier into the main tube, (and for this purpose a carrier has been placed within the tubesection c when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 2,) the operator will then lay hold of the lever and shift the valves toward the right of the position shown in Fig. 2, When air will immediately be admitted behind the piston, the latter actuated, and the desired transference of the carrier from a point Without to a point within the tube accomplished; but if when the operator lays hold of the lever L he iinds that the valve mechanism and the sending apparatus are locked-that is to say, if there is an obstacle against the projecting end of the valve-rod k, said obstacle being the lever J3, yet it is not necessary for him to refrain from operating lever L, because by virtue of the spring arrangement just described he may shift the lever L, as before, the result of which will be to compress the spring m2 against the shoulder of the valve-rod k, the lever L being then held in its shifted position by means of the catch L2, andwhen the parts are thus arranged it will be obvious that a release of the catch or or lever J 3 from the end of the valve-rod 7c will allow the spring m2 to come automatically into play and the result will be that the valves will then be automatically shifted Without further action on the part of the operator, and hence when the automatic unlocking of the sending apparatus takes place in consequence of the passage of the carrier then momentarily in the tube opposite said sending apparatus there will take place a simultaneous automatic operation of the shifting mechanism, whereby another carrier will be inserted into the tube.

Adjacent to the projecting end of the valvestem 7c is the projection, trip-arm, or catch lever, as it may be indifferently termed, J 3, which is formed rigidly with the horizontal shaft J 2, on which shaft is likewise a downwardly-projecting arm or lever J 4. In line with the levei` J 4 is a bell-crank device consisting of the downwardly-projecting arm y', the stud or shaft J, and the catch-arm j',

which is adapted to engage a notch J in the swinging mechanism that carries the tubesections c c-as,forinstance,in the lower edge of one of the frames C. Vhen the catcharm j is in engagement with the notch J', there can be no shifting of the swinging mechanism; but it is obvious that said catch device j will drop out of the notch J of its own weight when there is no force opposing against the downwardly-projecting arm j. Vhenaforce presses against the downwardly-projecting arm J 4, the result is to oscillate the shaft J2 and place the upwardly-projecting arm J 3 against the end of the valve-rod k, so that said rod cannot be shifted. If a horizontal rod acts against the downwardly-projecting arm J 4 and shifts the same sufficiently, the result will be that said horizontal rod Will pass beneath the projection J 4, allowing the latter to rest and ride thereon, thereby making an effectual lock for the parts, and said rod may likewise be directed against the arm 7 of the bell-crank device, causing the catch-arm j' to engage the notch J Such a form of hori- IOO IIO

be closed by the breaking of the electric circuit. While this operation is going on the air will be gradually disappearing from the air-chamber B through the outlet-port b2,

chamber b5, and opening b4; but this exhaustv of the air will not be material until the valve E E is closed, because of the smallness of the outlet-port b2 in comparison with the inletopening. The closing of the air-inlet valve and the shutting off of the air-pressure will of course cause the pressure to diminish upon the disk H', and hence in a brief time the spring H2 will overbalance the pressure against the face of piston II' and the piston will be restored to its former position and the rod h drawn away from the projection J 4, and the locked parts will become unlocked. Furthermore, when the pressure ceases to enter the air-chamber B the pressure against the piston g will diminish, and hence the excess of pressure against the piston g will shift the two pistons g g to the left once more into their former position. It will thus be seen that the carrier, by closing the electric circuit, sets in operation the pneumatically-actuated locking mechansm,whereby the sending apparatus is effectually held in an im-` movable position and not released until after the carrier has passed out of the way, thereby preventing the insertion of another carrier into the main tube when any carrier is in such position that there could be a collision. The

-time that the sending apparatus remains locked depends upon the time that is necessary for the air in chamber B to escape through the orifice b4 after the valve E E is closed. This time may be made as long or as short as we please by adjusting the size of the orifice b4. In practice the time is made sufficiently long to allow the passing carrier to get a considerable distance beyond the substation. The circuit-closer P p P is located some distance in advance of the substation, say three hundred or four hundred feet, and the sending apparatus will remain locked untilthe passing carrier has moved, say, three hundred orfour hundred feet beyond the substation. The distance is determined by the time the apparatus is set to be locked and by the speed of the carrier.

If a second carrier arrives at the circuitcloser P p P before the apparatus is unlocked, the chamber B will be again-filled and the apparatus does not become unlocked until the fixed period of time has elapsed from the arrival of the last carrier at the circuit-closer P p P. It will be seen that this system differs essentially from a system that operates by having a passing carrier lock the sending apparatus before arriving at a substation by closing an electric circuit and then unlocking the apparatus after it has passed the substation by breaking the electric circuit. In a system of this kind a second carrier might be passing the substation when the first car rier unlocks the apparatus; but in the system described in this specification and for which I Adesire Letters Patent the substation sending apparatus is always locked when there is a passing carrier or several of them near by. Itmight be termed a block system.

I will now describe an alternative form of mechanism for accomplishing in a different way the same result as that achieved by the use of the pneumatically operated means shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10,11, and l2, R2 R2 designate uprights or standards in which is journaled a horizontal rotative shaft T, that is driven at a constant rate of speed by means of an electric motor T, clock, or other suitable drivingpower. Fastened rigidly on the shaft T at a point between the standards R2 R2 is a ratchet-wheel t. Likewise on the shaft T is an inverted-U-shaped frame S, which is oscillatable upon the shaft T, but is normally held in a vertical position.

In the upper portion of the frame S is carried an electromagnet S', and journaled in the frame S at a point below the electromagnet S' is a horizontal shaft U. To this shaft is attached the pawl or catch U', which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel t. The levers U2 and U3 are connected together, as shown in Fig. 12, and are pivoted on the shaft U. The armature U6 is connected to the pawl U. U4 denotes an insulated screw carried in a projection of the frame S adjacent to the electromagnet S', and the levervU2 is adapted to come into contact with the tip of this screw when the circuit is closed and the armature U6 is drawn against the magnet S. Below the lever U2 is a spring u, which acts to force the lever U2 upward and hold it in contact with the armature U6. One of the hubs of the frame S, that is mounted on the shaft T, is formed in part as a drum T2, around which is wound a cord T4, to which is attached a weight T5. This weight serves to keep the frame S in an upright position, it being observed that the lower or depending part t2 of this frame engages one of the standards R2. The other part of said hub is formed as a cam T2, the form of which is indicated clearly in Fig. 13.

R denotes an upright arm which is pivoted at its lower end and in Fig. 8 is shown as being in contact with the straight face of the cam. A revolution of the cam, however, from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9, by applying the curved edge of the cam to the edge of the arm R, causes the latter arm to be deflected from its vertical to an inclined position. The upper end of arm R is pivoted to the end of a rod R', which is similar in function and situation to the rod h, already described. When the vertical rod R is caused to assume an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 9, the rod R is forced against and beneath the projection .I4 and also against the bell-crank j. A flat spring lr is screwed to one of the standards R2 and presses with its free end against the outer edge of the upright arm R, assisting to normally hold the same in a vertical position.

The operation of the foregoing combination of parts will be readily understood from the description of their arrangement. When a carrier in passing through the lmain tube closes the circuit through the wires V V', (see Fig. 11,) a similar result takes place to what follows when the circuit in Fig. 1 is closed through the wires Q Q', in that the electromagnet S'is energized, the armature U6 being attracted thereto, the lever U2 being brought into contact with the screw U4 and a short circuit established through the wire V2, and also the pawl or catch U is caused to engage the teeth of the constantly-rotating ratchetwheel z'. The result of such engagement is to cause the ratchet-wheel in its rotation to carry with it the frame S, the electromagnet S', and all the accompanying or attached parts, and consequently the cam 'I3 operates against the upright arm R, defiecting, the same and driving the rod R' horizontally outward, as before mentioned. As soon as the circuit is broken the spring U5, which is attached to the pawl U' and to the upper part v of the frame S, will operate to diseugage the pawl from the ratchet-Wheel 1f, and then of course the frame S will cease to revolve with the ratchet-wheel t, and the weight T5 will at once cause the frame S to be restored to its normal vertical position. The spring r will at this time restore the upright arm R to its normal vertical position, and as the rod R' will be removed from the bell-crank projection j and the other locking projection .I4 the sending apparatus will be relieved and the parts so related that another carrier may, it' desired, be inserted into the main tube at the substation. The electric circuit in this construction is broken in consequence of the action of the doWnwardly-projecting lever or arm U3 when the latter comes in contact with the pin Y, which pin is carried by a disk Y'. The pin is adapted to be set at any part of a circle by turning and clamping the disk Y'. This disk and the pin are clearly shown in Fig.v 7. The time that the apparatus is locked is measured by the length of the arc through which the frame S revolves, and said arc is governed by the position of the pin Y.

Inasmuch as the levers U2 and U3 are connected rigidly together, it will be evident that when the lever U3 comes in contact with the pin Y it will be rotated about the shaft U, U2 being rota-ted at the same time, thereby breaking the electric circuit between U2 and U4. When the circuit is broken, if the spring U5 does not withdrauT the paWl U from the ratchet-Wheel then the continued rotation of U2 about the shaft U brings the lever U2 in contact with the lever UB and forcibly disengages the pawl U'. In Fig. 12 the part U7 supports the armature U".

I have thus shown two modifications of mechanism, both embodying the essential and primary feature of my invention. It is obvious that a great variety of other mechanisms may be employed for carrying my said primary invention into effect, and I desire to have it explicitly understood that my broader claims are intended to embrace Within their terms all such alternative or modified forms of mechanisms as may be contrived as substitutes or mechanical equivalents of the specie combinations herein given, the latter being presented simply by way of illustration and not for the purpose of confining my invention. thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a pneumatic-despateh-tube system, the combination with a main transit-tube, of an intermediate or substation sending apparatus, whereby a carrier can be injected into the transit-tube, a lock for said substation sending apparatus, and lock-setting apparatus actuated by the passage of a carrier or carriers in the main tube on their way toward the substation, said lock-setting apparatus being provided with a time-escapement whose initial movement is inaugurated simultaneously with the setting of the lock and completed a definite time thereafter without further action of the carrier.

2. In a pneumatic-despateh-tube system, the combination with a substation sending apparatus, of means for locking said sending apparatus, and devices operated by the difference in pneumatic pressure in front of and behind a moving carrier and controlling the operation of said locking means, substantially as described.

3. In a pneu matic-despatch-tube system, the combination with a substation sending apparatus, of means for locking said sending apparatus, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said locking means, and means operated by the difference in pneumatic pressure in front of and behind a moving carrier to close a switch in said electric circuit before the carrier reaches the substation, substantially as described.

4. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, the combination with a substation sending apparatus, of means for locking said sending apparatus, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said locking means, and means operated by the difference in pneumatic pressure in front of and behind a moving carrier to close a switch in said electric circuit before the carrier reaches the substation, and to open said switch after the carrier passes the substation, substantially as described.

5. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system the combination with a substation sending apparatus of means actuated by the difference in pneumatic pressure in front of and behind the passing carrier to lock said sending apparatus before the carrier reaches the substation substantially as described.

6. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system IOO IIC

the combination With a substation sending apparatus of means actuated by the difference in pneumatic pressure in front of and behind a passing carrierto lock said sending apparatus before the carrier reaches the substation and to unlock the same after the carrier has' passed the substation, substantially as described.

7. In a pneumatic-despatcl1-tube system, the combination of a circuit-closing means, an air-chamber, a Valve for controlling the admission of air thereinto, a rod-carrying disk at the opposite end of the chamber, a locking device operated by said rod-carrying disk, and

electric circuit which is automatically closed f and opened by the passing of a carrier through the main tube, an electromagnet on the airchamber, leverage mechanism connected to the inlet-Valve and operating in connection with the electromagnet, a differential double piston engaging said leverage mechanism and operated by air-pressure from Within the airchamber on the one side and from the source of air-supply on the other side, and a locking-rod operated by the pressure Within the air-chamber, substantially as described.

10. The combination lin a pneuiinatic-de-V spatch system, of the maintube, a circuit-closing device operated by the passage of a carrier along the main tube, an air-chamber, an inlet-valve therefor, an electromagnet, a leverage mechanism operating to open the inlet-valve when the electromagnet is excited, a dierential piston engaging said leverage mechanism to close the inlet-Valve at the proper time, an air-conduit leading from a source of air-supply and connecting With the air-chamber, an auxiliary air-passageV connecting with the air-chamber and the aforesaid supply-conduit, in Which latter auxiliary air-passage the dierential piston is arranged, so that the air-pressure may operate upon both sides thereof, and a locking-rod carried by a disk Whose face is exposed to the airpressure Within the air-chamber, substantially as described.

1l. In a pneumatic-despatch system, the combination With the main tube, of circuitclosing means operated by the passage of the carrier through said tube, an air-chamber, an inlet-Valve therefor, an electromagnet, means operating in connection With said magnet for automatically opening and closing the said inlet-valve, and means operated by the pressure Within the air-chamber for automatically locking the sending apparatus, substantially as described.

. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature Witnesses:

HENRY B. HATHAWAY, ALPHONSE DEssIoN. 

